[Game Takes] Flames 4 Stars 2

[Bingo]

Flames 4 Stars 2

- Tkachuk with his 40th goal and 100th point
- Backlund lines gets rolling
- Markstrom solid
- Flames PK dominant

[Moneyhands23]

Giddy up!

[Enoch Root]

As you say, the Flames keep winning with middle of the pack PDO.

Last night they had 4 or 5 posts, Lindholm hitting Oettinger's skate blade on what should have been a sure goal, and Kylington hitting Tkachuk's ass on an empty net, sure goal.

The Stars tie it on a broken play that comes up the ice after Toffoli hits the post with the goalie caught out of the net.

the Flames aren't winning with luck, they are currently winning despite getting little luck.

A lot of fans are worried that the Flames aren't playing as well as they were earlier. I am not concerned at all - I see a team that is better than its opposition each night, despite the fact that they have less to play for, and aren't getting many bounces right now.

I see a team that has been focused on, and continues to focus on, doing things the right way and preparing for the playoffs. I see a team that is in as good of a position as any team in the league, to step it up for the playoffs.

It comes down to execution of course - you have to get it done when it matters - but it looks to me like everything is pointing towards them being set to raise the bar significantly, come May.

[Bingo]

^ yeah and a team that continues to improve the look of their "C" game.

When the Flames aren't good, they're not that bad any more. That structured weather the storm system will be huge in the playoffs with the momentum swings.

Last night they had some iffy stretches, kept it simple, didn't give up much, then got their game back in order and won the game.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As you say, the Flames keep winning with middle of the pack PDO.

Last night they had 4 or 5 posts, Lindholm hitting Oettinger's skate blade on what should have been a sure goal, and Kylington hitting Tkachuk's ass on an empty net, sure goal.

The Stars tie it on a broken play that comes up the ice after Toffoli hits the post with the goalie caught out of the net.

the Flames aren't winning with luck, they are currently winning despite getting little luck.

A lot of fans are worried that the Flames aren't playing as well as they were earlier. I am not concerned at all - I see a team that is better than its opposition each night, despite the fact that they have less to play for, and aren't getting many bounces right now.

I see a team that has been focused on, and continues to focus on, doing things the right way and preparing for the playoffs. I see a team that is in as good of a position as any team in the league, to step it up for the playoffs.

It comes down to execution of course - you have to get it done when it matters - but it looks to me like everything is pointing towards them being set to raise the bar significantly, come May.

Well, the hockey gods did kind of smile on them on two goals, no?

Backlund cross checks Heiskenan, and the point shot deflects off his elbow past the goalie. If that’s not luck, I’m not sure what is.

The third goal as well was off the Star’s leg

Twice Backlund was in front of the net and pointed to the guy who got the goal

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Well, the hockey gods did kind of smile on them on two goals, no?

Backlund cross checks Heiskenan, and the point shot deflects off his elbow past the goalie. If that’s not luck, I’m not sure what is.

The third goal as well was off the Star’s leg

Twice Backlund was in front of the net and pointed to the guy who got the goal

Go to the net, and get pucks on net. Both of those goals could just as easily gone off Backlund's stick as the defenseman, because that's how you score in the NHL more often than not. And one of the Star's goals was scored exactly the same way.

Flames had more good chances than the Stars, and if Kylington's and Lindholm's go in, or Toffoli scores before the Stars go back down the ice, it's probably a blowout.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Go to the net, and get pucks on net. Both of those goals could just as easily gone off Backlund's stick as the defenseman, because that's how you score in the NHL more often than not. And one of the Star's goals was scored exactly the same way.

Flames had more good chances than the Stars, and if Kylington's and Lindholm's go in, or Toffoli scores before the Stars go back down the ice, it's probably a blowout.

Yeah, I didn't see any mention of it but both of those goals don't go in if Backlund isn't there battling the defensemen to the ice.

He didn't get a point on either goal but he was the main reason they were scored.

[EVERLAST]

It's nice getting these wins and points as needed.
You gotta be happy watching certain players up their game and find another gear or rather....having Darryl have the ability to extract (milking) every ounce of effort from these guys.

I often wonder if our players knew they had it in them all along or if they know what was required for this change in .....
- mentality
- work ethic
- culture
- discipline
- accountability

Darryl sure has done an incredible job of making sure everyone from Brad down knows how valuable they are in all they do.

Pulling in the same direction is what this teams change has been. Same goals . Unfinished business.
GFG
Thanks for another great write up Bingo

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Go to the net, and get pucks on net. Both of those goals could just as easily gone off Backlund's stick as the defenseman, because that's how you score in the NHL more often than not. And one of the Star's goals was scored exactly the same way.

Yeah, they were doing the right things, I don’t disagree.

I was just responding to the comment that they were winning despite getting little luck.

They won by 2 goals and got 2 lucky goals.

That elbow deflection off of Heiskenan was not deliberate or repeatable. Putting the puck on net and hoping something happens is repeatable. A puck off the guy’s elbow over the goalie? Luck

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Yeah, they were doing the right things, I don’t disagree.

I was just responding to the comment that they were winning despite getting little luck.

They won by 2 goals and got 2 lucky goals.

That elbow deflection off of Heiskenan was not deliberate or repeatable. Putting the puck on net and hoping something happens is repeatable. A puck off the guy’s elbow over the goalie? Luck

You're talking about 2 plays. And you ignored the 5 posts (for example). You are discussing a statistical issue using 2 data points.

The point Bingo made, and I was expanding on, was that their PDO is showing that they haven't been lucky, in fact they have been pretty unlucky.

[DeluxeMoustache]

People hit posts all the time.

People don’t get deflections off of a falling guy’s elbow over the goalie’s shoulder often

PDO says they are unlucky. Uh, ok.

That’s a whole other subject, PDO. It is a pretty debatable argument. Statistically, across the league, shooting and save percentages balance out.

Reality, based on the actual events that determined the actual game, says they were lucky

That’s fine. We’re talking about different things.

[Bingo]

PDO isn't always unlucky ... I think it's more difficult than that.

Teams set patterns and really good teams quite often clip along at 1.015 to 1.02 which makes sense because they probably have better than average shooters and a better than average goaltender.

When they get out of that band ... say go up to 1.04 or down to 1.0 its unusual enough for that good team that a correction is often coming.